MUNCIE — An FBI probe into possible wrongdoing in Muncie city government might have been ongoing for months, officials say, but became more focused and urgent in the past three months as allegations of inappropriate practices came to light.

The day after The Star Press reported that an FBI investigation was underway and Mayor Dennis Tyler said he had told his department heads to cooperate with investigators and "tell the truth," officials were cautious Friday in their public comments about the investigation — or, potentially, investigations.

Although the FBI told The Star Press this week it could neither confirm nor deny an investigation was ongoing and Delaware County Prosecutor Jeffrey Arnold said he hadn't been "officially" notified of a federal investigation, the focus seems to be on a handful of topics, including building demolitions performed by the city, in some cases by a private company founded by Building Commissioner Craig Nichols; the firing of Gretchen Cheesman, a longtime city employee who oversaw some demolitions and who later told city officials she would talk about "alleged misconduct” by others if Tyler changed her status from fired to retired and restored her benefits; and the purchase in September of a former flea market building by the Muncie Sanitary District for $395,000, a few weeks after the previous owner sold it for $150,000.

In each of those instances, Tyler and his administration have maintained there was no wrongdoing.

Another possible investigation was cited to The Star Press on Friday also related to demolitions but stemming from the $4 million in state and federal Hardest Hit Funds awarded to the city in 2014 to remove abandoned structures.

The Star Press was told Friday that the Indiana inspector general's Ethics Commission was investigating the use of Muncie's Hardest Hit money. Tiffany Mulligan, chief legal counsel for Inspector General Cynthia V. Carrasco, said, "In accordance with Indiana law, our investigations and inquiries are confidential. As a result, we cannot comment on whether our office made such an inquiry."

Officials recently acknowledged that no demolitions with Hardest Hit funding had been done in the two years since funding was awarded.

Delaware County government officials, including commissioners James King and Sherry Riggin and Delaware County Council member Mike Jones, said Friday they did not believe the investigation touched on county government.

"I'm confident there's no investigation into county business," Jones said.

King said the time frame for the city-focused investigation extended back into 2015.

"I started hearing about (the FBI investigation) eight months to a year ago," said King, who is also the Daleville town marshal. "I wasn't told by law enforcement. It was from people in the community who heard the FBI was investigating the city of Muncie."

Riggin said she had heard the investigation included "the Cheesman thing," but added, "People are intimidated and urged not to talk."

County Commissioner Shannon Henry, who is also the Albany town marshal, declined to talk about the investigation.

Muncie City Council member Linda Gregory said she was aware of the FBI investigation but declined to say publicly how and what she knew.

Political differences are part of the mix in this new investigation, not surprisingly, since elected officials and the people they appoint could be most affected by any investigation.

Tyler and his department heads are part of the mainstream Democratic Party. Gregory is a Democratic Party outsider, while Jones, who lost a re-election bid in the Democratic Party primary election earlier this month, has generally been in good standing with his party. Others like Riggin and Henry are Republicans.

King, who was estranged from Democratic Party leaders, including Tyler, before switching to the Republican Party earlier this election year, said he took no pleasure in reports of the investigation.

"Stuff like this is an embarrassment to our community," King said. "I would never want our community being investigated by the FBI."

"I believe in the system," Jones said. "If wrongdoing has been done, the people responsible should be held accountable. I have faith in the mayor that he told his department heads to tell the truth."

Contact Keith Roysdon at 765-213-5828 and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.